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Palm Tree Care
Special NotesPlantingPalms should be thoroughly soaked in their containers before planting and this is best achieved by immersion of the container in water. The planting hole should then be dug and this should be significantly wide and deep to accommodate the root system. If the soil in the planting hole is dry it should be filled with water and allowed to drain before planting. Some fertilizer (inorganic, organic or slow release) should be thoroughly worked into the bottom of the hole before planting. About a handful is usually adequate. Once the planting hole is ready, the palm should be removed from its container and dead or badly coiled roots trimmed back or straightened out. The palm should be placed into position with the top of the container soil just below that of the garden soil and the water firmed around the roots and watered thoroughly (5-10 liters per plant). WateringMany palms are extremely tolerant of dryness, but all look and grow better with supplementary watering during dry periods. Generally the type of area that the palm comes from is a good guide to their dryness tolerance. Shade-loving palms are generally rather sensitive to dryness and quickly wilt and look frayed if allowed to become very dry. Similarly, dwarf or small palms have few reserves to cope with dryness and are best if watered regularly. It is important to recognize the water needs of a palm before planting and also it is most important to grow species with similar moisture requirements together. The shade-and moisture-loving species prefer plenty of water and it is very difficult to over-water them--especially in dry times. Established palms have a large root system that ramifies a considerable distance through the surrounding soil. This is true of even small-growing palms and it means that the plants are able to tap a vast reserve for their nutrient and water requirement. It is also important to remember that water is best applied during cool periods or in the evening or early morning. SoilMost palm trees prefer a slightly more acidic soil (Mediterranean Fan and Yucca and exception) than mostly alkaline soils. Alkaline soils create nutritional deficiency problems in many palm trees. By adding organic matter, gypsum, or gypsite you counteract alkalinity the soil. Tropical trees need good drainage and some moisture retention, which by adding organic matter, helps create this ideal. Also, by adding red worms to the soil, this will help aerate and help keep the soil open and loose. PruningThe pruning of palms is usually generally limited to the removal of unwanted or unsightly brown growth, such as, suckers, clusters of fruit or dead fronds. The best time to prune unwanted fronds in normally after they have fallen down to the trunk of the palm, and the frond is usually brown in color. Pruning of palms regularly keeps them healthy, and also helps them to grow at a more rapid rate. Reclaiming Unthrifty PalmsPalms generally tolerate neglect well, but if the growing conditions are unsuitable or in the extreme, plants can become unthrifty and may linger like this for many years. Nitrogen deficiency is a very common cause of this malady but other causes include poor drainage, lack of organic matter and regular periods of dryness. Unthrifty palms frequently become the target for pests such as mealy bug or scale, but these attacks are usually because of the weakened condition of the plant, not the cause of it. Unthrifty palms can be invigorated by identifying the cause and having it corrected. Nutrition is the major cause and a good dose of a balanced fertilizer fortified with extra nitrogen will usually promote a dramatic response. A heavy mulch of some organic material should also be applied and the plants should be regularly watered during dry periods. Dead fronds and leaf sheaths should be removed and burnt. This will expose any these can be killed by spraying or any natural predators. It is always important to remember that if strong growth is to be maintained, it is essential that the fertilizers, mulches and water be applied to the palms on a regular basis. Characteristics & Cause/'Treatment of Unthrifty PalmsYellow Fronds- Usually results from receiving too much water and from being planted in hard compacted soil. This damage may be reversed with the application of a high nitrogen fertilizer. Also, it may be useful to dig down 24"-36" and insert a 3' to 4' perforated pipe. Peer into the pipe and analyze as to whether there is too much water in the soil. Pump the excess water out of the hole. Dry Brown Fronds- This characteristic is due to insufficient water or can also be caused by dry, Santa Ana type winds. The older fronds on the palm are usually the first to be at risk. If a palm is effected it is crucial that it receives more water, especially during the warmer months of the year. Brown or Black Tips- If a palm has fronds with tip burn, it's caused by too much alkaline salt in the soil. In order to counteract this problem, water in iron, gypsum, or sulfur into the palms soil base. Apply the recommended amount that is listed in the products bag. Fronds Turn all Brown- This damage will usually occur after a frost or freeze, and will probably result in the whole plant eventually turning brown. The most effective way to rejuvenate this palm is to wait until two weeks after the initial cold damage and to prune all the fronds off of the palm. A new shoot from the center should sprout after about two weeks. If this sprouting does not occur the palm may be beyond being recuperated. Special NotesDrainageThe most important aspect to consider when planting a palm is its drainage system, since most palm trees require good drainage in order to thrive. To set up drainage when planting a palm, dig a 2' shovel width test hole. Fill the hole with water. The water should drain at approximately 1" per hour or faster. Next, blend approximately 1/3 organic mix (such as Bandini Planter Mix, Kellogg's Gromulch, Kellogg's Amend, Redwood soil conditioners, or bulk commercial planter mix blends) to 2/3 soil back into the hole. After this step you are ready to plant the tree. Dig the hole twice and deep as the plants container and two to three times as wide. If planting into a heavy clay soil, add some sand and gypsum. The gypsum will help keep the clay soil loose. FertilizersThere are very good prepared palm fertilizers on the market, but they are costly. It is best to use a quality palm fertilizer such as Best Turf Supreme, Bandini Blade, Bandini Citrus Food or equivalent. These fertilizers are high in nitrogen, combined with iron, trace minerals and sulphur (sulphur will help correct alkaline soils). Palm trees prefer frequent mild applications of fertilizer during the spring through fall months. Do not fertilize in the winter, since palms do not grow under 50 degrees F and re somewhat dormant. FrostFrost is a problem for many palms. When you live five miles or more inland from the coast, check in your neighborhood (same elevation) for palm trees that have lived through five winters or more. Observe how healthy these trees look to get an idea of what type of palm trees will thrive in your environment. AntsAnts are the biggest insect problem for palms. They climb up to the center growth to live and breed mealy bugs and aphids. Ants can be rid of by using Dursban, Diazinon, or Sevin. ScaleThis is an infrequent disease for palms. This disease normally affects the underside of leaves. Brown, black, and white scales (magnolia scale) are difficult to kill because of their waxy outer shell. In the case of small infestations, scrape off with your fingernails; larger infestation, spray with Malathion on cool, cloudy days. WhiteflyThese insects are the size of a grain of sand and fly around like a cottony mass. They are usually found around more delicate palms such as the Kentia. In order to alleviate this problem, hose-spray the tree and use insecticidal spray. GrasshoppersGrasshoppers love to chew on the leaves of palms, especially that of Queen Palms. Basically, there is no way to get rid of these nuisances. Grasshoppers only affect the looks of the palm and are not too detrimental to the overall health of the tree. Spider MitesThese insects live in a microscopic cluster on the undersides of leaves, and they feed on the juices from the leaves. These mites thrive in hot, dry and dusty conditions. Keep the humidity up by washing leaves frequently to kill the mites. GophersGophers chew on and destroy the roots of certain palm trees, especially Queen Palms and Pigmy Dates. Also, animals such as rabbits, mice, and rats like to gnaw on palm tree roots and trunks. Rabbits often eat a palm's tender new growth. Fungus DiseasesFungus disease is luckily not a big problem for palm trees. The best fungus control is to keep your plants healthy through frequent mild fertilizing. Also, poor drainage where water stands and overcrowding of plants, where there is lack of air movement, can help foster disease. |
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